6 in 10 South Koreans Discovers News Music From TV Shows

According to a 2016 white paper on the music industry released by the Korea Creative Content Agency, when asked what type of music they enjoyed listening to (multiple responses permitted), 58.5 percent of 1,200 respondents aged between 10 and 59 said they preferred to listen to songs played on TV shows, while 50.8 percent turned to the music charts found on streaming services including Melon and Bugs. (Image KBS)

According to a 2016 white paper on the music industry released by the Korea Creative Content Agency, when asked what type of music they enjoyed listening to (multiple responses permitted), 58.5 percent of 1,200 respondents aged between 10 and 59 said they preferred to listen to songs played on TV shows, while 50.8 percent turned to the music charts found on streaming services including Melon and Bugs.

The findings from the white paper reflect the current trend in the South Korean TV industry in which South Korean pop music has become an integral part of many shows, giving artists the opportunity to promote their music.

Other music fans stuck to their favorite genres such as R&B or ballads, while dance, rock and hip-hop also proved popular, accounting for 49.7 percent and 44.4 percent respectively.

Among the shows with the biggest musical influence, KBS’s Sister’s Slam Dunk came out on top with the single ‘Shut Up’ released by the cast members having been streamed nearly 30 million times online.

JTBC’s Two Yoo Project Sugar Man followed closely, with one episode starring singers Kim Bum-soo and Kim Tae-woo featuring songs that have been streamed over 20 million times.

However, some critics argue it could be harmful for the music industry to rely too heavily on variety television shows, as opportunities for artists to promote their new work could be restricted to those who also adapt well to TV appearances.

Cultural critic Ha Jae-keun said, “Long term measures need to be adopted to provide ways for people to find music to their liking, such as pop music education at school.”

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